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Nochaway Ag Update

AGRICULTURAL NEWS FOR RANDOLPH, CALHOUN, AND TERRELL COUNTIES!

It’s White Mold time !!!

Jun 3, 2013 | Written by

With the temperatures that we have been having recently and the increased chances for rainfall that we have over the next week, growers should start thinking about the structure and timing of their peanut white mold program. Here are some recent comments from UGA Peanut Pathologist Bob Kemerait on white mold considerations for the growing season:

The “backbone” of white mold management remains the use of appropriate fungicides over the period between 60 and 102 days after planting. This is our historical “white mold management block”. However, there has been a revolution in the management of white mold over the past five years. Not only do we have an expanding arsenal of effective fungicides for the management of white mold, e.g., Fontelis and Proline, but the cost of fungicide tebuconazole has dropped allowing creative new programs. Based largely on the research from Dr. Tim Brenneman’s program, we also manage white mold more aggressively. The most obvious changes have been 1) the value of applications of fungicides at nights, 2) the value of banded applications of Proline and Abound within five weeks of planting, and 3) the value of early-season broadcast applications of tebuconazole. Much like the old adage from the Civil War, “Get their first with the most,” new strategies to manage white mold include tactics to get concentrated amounts of fungicides to the target earlier than we have in the past.

As a refresher, here are our current recommendations for the management of white mold.

All growers should use deploy some fungicide program for the management of white mold over the period of 60 to 102 days after planting. The specifics of that program is influenced by the severity of the risk to white mold (see Peanut Rx) and the fungicides that are included in the fungicide program.

All growers should consider the opportunity to tank-mix tebuconazole (7.2 fl oz/A) with chlorothalonil or pyraclostrobin (Headline) early in the season. Such a tank-mix is affordable and provides a start to leaf spot and white mold control. (Note: growers who will use a full-season Provost, Quash or tebuconazole program should carefully consider fungicide-resistance issues before starting the season with tebuconazole.)

Applying fungicides for the management of white mold at night or in the very early morning while leaves are still folded is an important tactic to optimal placement of the fungicide in the crown of the plant. Some thought should be given to maintaining best control of leaf spot since only the underside of the leaf will be treated at night; however this is easily addressed with the use of a systemic fungicide.

If you have any questions about your peanut white mold program, contact your local extension office for more information.

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About Nochaway Ag Update

The Nochaway Ag Update is a blog designed to provide timely information to the agricultural producers of Terrell, Calhoun, and Randolph Counties. The Ichawaynochaway Creek flows through all three of these Southwest Georgia counties and was chosen to represent our area of responsibility. 'Nochaway,' was selected because that is what many of us call the Ichawaynochaway Creek.